NFL Insiders Conflicted on Whether Kirk Cousins is Actually Testing Free Agency

The news Minnesota Vikings fans have been waiting for since the moment we learned Kirk Cousins would be making some sort of decision tonight has finally come. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, instead of signing an extension with the Vikings now, Cousins is preparing to test free agency when the negotiation window opens on Monday at 11 AM CT.

The #Vikings and Kirk Cousins remain in communication, but it appears the four-time Pro Bowl QB will test the free-agent market, which opens at noon ET on Monday. @NFLTotalAccess @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/qwGM49Cier

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 10, 2024

“The Vikings and Kirk Cousins’ agent remain in communication, but at this point, it does appear the four-time Pro Bowl quarterback is going to hit the free agent market on Monday. Other teams I would expect to pursue Cousins include the Atlanta Falcons and quite possibly, the Denver Broncos as well. The Vikings are still in this. A deal could come together quickly, assuming the offer is right.”

“So what does an offer to Kirk Cousins look like? I would certainly anticipate the average per year is going to be upwards of $40 million, but structure is also really important, and future guarantees are really important to a player who has played on a fully-guaranteed deal for nine seasons in a row.”

Kirk Cousins Is Testing Free Agency, Or Is He?

Shortly after Pelissero’s report broke, however, Dianna Russini (The Athletic) provided her own update on Captain Kirk’s contract negotiations with the Vikings. It’s interesting to note that her report suggests the team has not heard anything about a decision to stay or go.

The Vikings are having internal conversations about their offer to Kirk Cousins. They haven't been informed by Cousins' camp about his decision, per sources. There's a feeling around the team that the QB wants to stay a Viking but this will come down to structure of the deal.

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) March 11, 2024

As Pelissero noted, the Vikings and Cousins’ agent, Mike McCartney, are still discussing a potential contract extension that would bring him back for a seventh season in Minnesota.

Related: 8 Free Agent QBs for Minnesota Vikings if Kirk Cousins Leaves, Ranked by Likelihood

Yet, for now, it appears that the 35-year-old prefers to test free agency. Unless, of course, Russini’s sources are more sound than Tom’s, in which case Cousins has not made up his mind yet. In other words, there’s still a lot to be determined. Stay tuned…